The long piano solo that ends Derek and the Dominoes' "Layla" is unmistakenly a perfect Cuban Danzon (accent on the 'o'), a form of dance music very popular in Cuba from the 1880s to the 1940s, and a precursor of both the Argentine Tango, the Cha-cha, and American Ragtime (there was a strong Cuban musical influence in New Orleans in the late 19th and early 20th century). It is said Scott Joplin often played with Cuban musicians.

The Danzon derives from the French Contredanse (Contradanza in Spanish) which came to Cuba with the French aristocrats and planters after they were run out of Haiti during the slave revolts. The Contredanse owes its roots to the English "Country Dance" of the 1500s, when men and women first started dancing in coed groups.

The Dominoes' piano instrumental also follows the Cuban arrangement and instrumentation
Lead: Piano = Piano & Flute
Bass: Bass Guitar = Bass fiddle
Rhythm: Slide Guitar = violins
Percussion: Drum kit = timbales, claves and cowbell

The only thing missing is that with a Cuban Danzon, the lead melody and improvisations alternate between the piano and a flute.

If you have a recording of "Layla", (shame if you don't!), listen to that piano solo and you'll know exactly what a 19th century Cuban Danzon sounds like. Not that we should be too surprised. The "Layla" album was recorded in Miami, it's not a stretch to think that the musicians picked up some Cuban influences. If you listen carefully, you can hear the origins of Tango and Ragtime and Cha-cha-cha, too.

For those of you interested in the Danzon, the definitive historical collection of classic danzon is available on CD from Kubaney (on Descarga Records). "Veinte Exitos de Danzon" volumes I and II. The danzon is still popular today, especially in the Veracruz area of Mexico, but it is considered somewhat old-fashioned, and the classic sound of early turn of the century danzon has been replaced by a brassier, big-band, Latin Jazz sound; more up-to-date but nowhere near as classy.